:: Palace Square ::

The Palace Square is one of the most perfect architectural ensembles in the world. Its development started from the Winter Palace - former residence of russian tzars. It was built in 1754-1762 by Bartholomeo Rastrelli. With the length of 200 meters and the area of 46,000 square meters the palace impress the imagination. There are 1057 rooms, 1886 doors, 1945 windows and 117 stairs.

Winter Palace is now housing a part of the Hermitage museum. Put together throughout two centuries and a half, the Hermitage collections of works of art (over 3,000,000 items) present the development of the world culture and art from the Stone Age to the 20th century.

The ensemble continues with the buildings of General Staff and the Ministries built in 1829 by C. Rossi. The buildings are arranged in a curve and linked with a triumphal arch to commemorate the glory of russian army in the Patriotic war of 1812 with Napoleon. On its attic sculptors Demut-Malinovsky and Pimenov placed the Chariot of Victory.

In the centre of the square stands the Alexander Column - another monument raised in honor of the victorios end of the Patriotic War. A monilythic pillar of polyshed granite was erected in 1834 by A. Montferrand. Victory is symbolized in a Roman style by a Doric column. The monument is a unique example of civil engeneering - the gigantic granite pillar with the weight of 650 tonns stands without any fixture.

The last erected building was the Guards Headquaters. Built in 1843 by A. Brullov this building successfully rounds off the ensemble.

:: The Peter and Paul Fortress ::

The foundation of the Peter and Paul Fortress was laid on May 27, 1703 during the Nothern War with Sweden. This day is considered to be the date of the foundation of Saint Petersburg city. The fortress was built on a small island on the mouth of the river Neva following the design made by Peter the Great. Few weeks after, on June 23, 1703, the first chirch was laid there - the Peter and Paul Church.

At the end of 1703 the fortress was constructed from wood and dirt and in 1706 the reconstruction in stone was started by an italian architect Domenico Trezzini. The Peter and Paul Church was replaced by the The Peter and Paul Cathedral in 1733 and has served as the necropolis of all russian emperors.

:: Saint Isaac Cathedral ::

Saint Isaac Cathedral is the former principal cathedral church of the Russian Capital and the outstanding example of russian architecture of the early XIX century. It was constructed by A. Montferrand in a style of late classicism in 1858.

The interior and exterior are faced with 14 different kinds of marble. Over 200 canvases, frescoes and mosaics created by 22 artists adorn the interior.

Official website: www.cathedral.ru

:: St. Trinity Alexander Nevsky Lavra ::

The Alexander Nevsky Lavra is a true artistic landmark of St. Petersburg. Founded by decree of the Emperor Peter I in 1710, the monastery is located on that very place where, according to the legend, prince Andrey, a son of prince Alexander Yaroslavitch (Nevsky), gained a victory over the Swedish troops in 1301. The St. Trinity Alexander Nevsky Lavra thus became one of the first large architectural ensembles in the northern Russian capital.

The Alexander Nevsky Lavra functions nowadays as an orthodox monastery.

In the year 2003 Alexander Nevsky Square was decorated with a monument to St Prince Alexander Nevsky, the Holy Patron of Russia.

Official website: www.lavra.spb.ru

:: Kazan Cathedral ::

Kazan Cathedral is a outstanding masterpiece of Russian architecture of early 19th century. The cathedral was built by architect Andrey Voronikhin in 1811 to commemorate one of the greatest relics of Ortodox church - the icon of Kazan Godmother. The building was inspired by the St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.

After the Patriotic War of 1812 the Cathedral became a monument to the glory of Russia. The Cathedral is the burial place of Field Marshal Kutuzov.

Official website: www.kazansky.ru

:: Church of the "Resurrection on Blood" ::

The multi-domed Church of the Resurrection of Christ is a single monument in memory of Alexander II left in the city. It is also the last church building of this size built in Saint Petersburg.

The Church of the Resurrection of Christ was built in 1883-1907 on the spot where the emperor Alexander II was blown up by a terrorist group in 1881 and is also known as the Church of the Ressurection on Blood.

Official website: www.cathedral.ru

:: The Split of Vasilyevsky Island ::

The Split of Vasilyevsky Island is one of the most beautiful places of Saint Petersburg. The central element of this architectural ensemble is the Stock Exchange building which was constructed in 1805-1810 by Thomas de Thomon. The building stands on a huge granite base and surrounded by columns. On the attic of the main and the opposite facades stand allegorical sculptures. One of them depicts the Neptune escorted by the Neva and Volkhov rivers, the other represents the Goddess of Navigation and Mercury, the god of trade, surrounded by the two rivers. In 1939 the Central Naval Museum was transferred to the Stock Exchange building.

Two Rostral Columns at the sides of the square was built by Thomas de Thomon simultaneously with the Stock Exchange. Having the gas lanterns on the top they served as beacons for ships entering the harbour. At the base of the columns there are allegorical figures representing the Neva, Volkhov, Volga and Dnieper rivers.

:: The Bronze Horseman ::

The famous statue of Peter the Great was unveiled in 1782 by french sculptor E. Falconet. The magnificient work of monumental art, majestic and full of expression, may be observed from different spots. It produces a strong impression wherever you look at it from.

Falconet decided to put the statue on a natural stone instead of common pedestal. The rock was about 13 meters long and more than 6 meters high. It weight approximately 1600 tons. With the help of levers and windlasses it was hoisted on a platform and hauled to the Gulf of Finland

After Pushkin wrote "The Bronze Horseman", the monument commonly went under this name in literature and everyday life.

:: Admiralty ::

The Admiralty Yard - the composition center of Saint-Petersburg - was founded in 1704 and built according the design made by Peter the Great. The building actual look appeared after the reconstruction made by A. Zakharov. From the beginning the Admiralty was the biggest shipyard in Russian Empire.

Unfortunately there is no spot from which one could get a comprehensive view of the building. At the end of XIX century the site between the side wings of the building was sold to private contractors and the view of nothern facade was blocked.

The length of the main facade is 406 meters, the sides are 163 meters long. The height of central tower with spire and weather-vane is 72,5 meters. The weather-vane shaped as a ship became one of the emblems of Saint Petersburg.